Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0136, 1945-12-31.

Full Translation:

The agreements which were reached at the MOSCOW Conference of the Three Powers' Foreign Ministers were very important as milestones on the way to victory of international democracy. What must especially be pointed out is that the essence of World War II was the combat between fascism and democracy, and that the victory which democratic countries with AMERICA and the SOVIET UNION as leaders, won over fascist nations, has been strengthened more and more. As a result, fascism has been completely suffocated, and democratic nations have been made more powerful.

During the war there was agreement to some extent, but on the score of differences among the nations as to the share of reparation after the war, AMERICA and the SOVIET UNION became diametrically opposed. Taking advantage of this gap between the two countries, the fascist nations have been trying to revive themselves. These nations have been dealt a serious blow by the recent MOSCOW Conference, and it is not difficult to surmise that they are now despairing.

The Conference also reached decisive results over problems concerning ASIA. One of there is the establishment of a Far Eastern Committee of 11 powers and of a Control Council for the supervision of JAPAN by AMRICA, ENGLAND the SOVIET UNION and CHINA. The other is the evacuation of American and Soviet forces from CHINA at the earliest date and the establishment of a democratic CHINA through the cessation of war between the Nationalists and the Communists.

These actions mean that the Allied Nations, especially ENGLAND, AMERICA, and the SOVIET UNION, have reached an agreement on the problem of supervising JAPAN and democratizing CHINA. This means also that a joint supervising committee by the Armies of AMEPRICA and the SOVIET UNION and a temporary republian government for KOREA will be established. Such actions clearly show the Three Powers' fundamental objectives concerning the independence of oppressed nations.

What influence will these agreements give to the political piture of JAPAN now that it has been practically shown that the union of the international democratic front, unlike the reactionary, expedient and artful union of the aggressive war leaders of the axis nations, is progressive and co-operative, and consequently solid and permanent, the strength of this international democracy will surely inspire and encourage democratic influences in JAPAN and aid in their speedy growth and formation.

The weakness of democratic influences in JAPAN has hitherto been much discussed. There has been a trend of pessimistic thought as to the

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durability and possibility of the union of international democracy. The feudalistic and militaristic ruling classed of JAPAN, for the sake of their own revival by preserving and maintaining their political and military powers, secretly schemed for the division of AMERICA and the SOVIET UNION, and have continued to issue deceptive propaganda, intending to cause disscusion in the future. However, those who can grasp the real aspect of things will place full trust in the strength of international democracy and strengthen the democratic influences of JAPAN. Meanwhile, various plans of democratizing JAPAN by action of the control council will be carried out fairly and unpartiall.

Old militaristic and feudalistic ruling powers will become weak and will have to be replaced by democratic influences. The Japanese Government, which has been lacking in thorough understanding of directives issued by MacARTHUR'S Headquarters for the democratization of JAPAN, has been dealt a tremendous blow by the MOSCOW Conference. The agreements AMERICA and the SOVIET UNION, shown by the Three Powers' Parley, will develop the powers of progressive parties as the first step toward the democratizing of JAPAN. At the same time, those former representatives, who though they are responsible for instigating the war, are trying to stand as candidates for re-election to the Diet, must have been disheartened by the facts stated above.

The former governing classes of JAPAN, whether political of economic, have been attempting to democratize the country in a make-shift manner as shown by their handling of the problems of revising the Constitution, inflation, unemployment, food, etc. Now however they cannot be free from censure by the control council. It will be shown to the nation, by fact after fact, that the decisions reached at the recent MOSCOW. Conference will greatly influence our Country which has just begun the first step toward democratic revolution, the coming general election as its starting point.

Full Translation:

Chairman: Recently, the abolition of the Emperor system has become a subject of discussion. What is the opinion on the problem in the Imperial Household Department?

Answer: Members of the Imperial household Department, think themselves close retainers of the Emperor, a lord to them, are unwilling to even mention the subject. If there were a popular vote on this matter, we could probably find no one who would agree to the abolition of the Emperor system.

Chairman: Up to now there has been a big gulf between the Emperor and the people, isn't that so?

Answer: Indeed, there has been, especially during the war, though the Emperor, himself, did not desire the gap. In fact, he had been deliberately isolated from his people by some militarists, bureaucrats, and [illegible]

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officials of the Imperial Household Ministry. The Imperial Palace looked very vague before the people, as if it were in ancient times, when a court noble was called "a man above the clouds." The Emperor often advised[illegible]his men to loosen the guard when he went out and found many gendarmes and policemen solemnly standing before the people, who were lined up along the road.

Chairman: Will the Emperor become more accessible to us now, with the termination of the war?

Answer: I'm sure he will! The Emperor's own broadcast on 15 August is a good beginning. In that broadcast, he addressed not only the Army but also the people. We had never dreamed of hearing the Emperor's own voice or to see him stand before a microphone. Nevertheless, to our great surprise we could actually hear his own voice.

Chairman: I can never forget the deep emotion felt at that time.

Answer: After the end of the war the flank guard of the Imperial procession was abolished due to the demobilization of the Army, and the informal motorcar cortege was also simplified. When the Emperor visited General MACARTHUR, it seemed as if there was no guard around him.

I attended the Emperor twice, on his visits to the Grand Shrine at ISE, December 1942 and November 1945. In accordance with the change of the situation, even the bureaucrats, themselves, seemed to have changed their thinking. The policy of the Imperial Household Ministry was changed. In 1942 the guard was very strict, but in 1945 it was much less so. The people, who could, look closely at the Imperial countenance at the side of the procession, were much pleased with this simplification. To my way of thinking, however, there is much room to reform. For instance, in KYOTO, though there were only five or six motorcars in the procession, the attendant vehicles numbered 17 or 18, three times as many as the procession. The procession can actually do with only three or four cars. As for taking pictures of the Emperor by the press news agencies, etc, it was absolutely prohibited to snap him within the grounds of the Shrine. Presently, however, it is permitted to take picture on his way back to TOKYO from ISE. The Emperor also permitted cameramen in plain clothes in the Diet Building to snap him by using flash lamps. This is, I think, a first step of contact between the Emperor and the people.

Chairman: Is there an opinion on the attitude of the Imperial Household, Ministry toward SOAP?

Answer: Since the Imperial assets wore frozen, the Ministry established a liaison office in it, chief of which is Councillor MIURA, and through the Office it made various requests of the Allied Supreme Headquarters.

Chairman: How are the demobilized Imperial princes treated?

Answer: According to a regulation, princes of the Imperial and Royal Family had to become Army or Navy personnel when they reached a fixed age. Since the Court rank regulations were revised, they have been able take their choice. Recently, prince KAYA was installed as Chief

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Ritualist. The Imperial Household Minister, ISHIWATA, seems to be thinking of the princes posts. The President-General of the Board of Decorations is a very good post for a prince, I think.

Chairman: Ex-premier Prince HIGASHIKUNI was rumored to be about to abandon the title of prince. What has become of this rumor?

Answer: I hear that prince HIGASHIKUNI proposed it informally to Mr. ISHWATA. There has not been a formal proposal. As the Emperor trusts him very much, this proposal would not be accepted, I suppose.

Chairman: Finally, let me know the recent circumstances of the "Bamboo Garden" (the Imperial Family.)

Answer: I hear that the Emperor has, since he accepted the Potsudam Declaration, been attending to the cares of the State along the lines of executing the provisions of the Declaration. Of late, he looks very healthy. It is said that in his spare time he does research in various subjects at a biology laboratory in the Imperial Palace. The Empress, hearing of the shortage of medical treatment for war victims, sent her court physisians to various districts and made them work with certain societies. She is also very earnest in bringing up and educating her three daughters, princesses TAKA, YORI, and SUGA, who recently returned from TOCHIGI prefecture, where they had been sheltered from war disaster. The mother of the Emperor, who has recently returned from KARUIZAWA, went to NUMAZU, where she is expected to see the new year in. The Imperial Prince had his 12th birthday on 23 December. He will attend the secondary course of the peers School next April. Prince YOSHI is expected to continue his study in the Primary course of the Peer's School.

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